Editing Initiative

'''Initiative''' determines the order of turns during combat.

== Rolling Initiative ==
When combat begins, every participating combatant rolls <span class="bg3wiki-info-blob">{{DieIcon|d4|Physical}} D4 + [[Dexterity#Dexterity Modifier Chart|Dexterity Modifier]]</span> to determine their position in the initiative order. Participants act in order from highest to lowest Initiative. If two participants roll the same Initiative result, the one with a higher [[Dexterity]] Score goes first, though characters controlled by the same player with the same Initiative effectively act simultaneously: they can use their collective actions, movement and other turn-based resources in any order they choose.

== Initiative bonuses ==
Many class features, [[feats]], magic items and consumables can improve a character’s initiative by granting additional bonuses to the roll. Many of these are also used by [[Non-Player Characters|NPCs]]. Unlike in tabletop rules, it is NOT considered a skill check, and so initiative is not affected by features or effects like [[Jack of All Trades]] or [[Enhance Ability: Cat's Grace (Condition)]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Sources of Initiative bonuses
!Source
!Value
!Type
!Subtype
!Other
|-
|[[Alert]]
| +5
|Feat
| -
|Cannot be Surprised
|-
|[[Elixir of Vigilance]]
| +5
|Consumable
|Elixir
|Cannot be Surprised
|-
|[[Feral Instinct]]
| +3
|Feature
| -
|Cannot be Surprised
|-
|[[Dread Ambusher]]
| +3
|Feature
| -
|
|-
|[[Hellrider Longbow]]
| +3
|Weapon
|Longbow
|
|-
|[[Sentinel Shield]]
| +3
|Shield
| -
|
|-
| [[Assassin of Bhaal Cowl]]
| +2
|Headwear
| -
|
|-
|[[Mask of Soul Perception]]
| +2
|Headwear
| -
|
|-
|[[Soulbreaker Greatsword]]
| +2
|Weapon
|Greatsword
|
|-
|[[Bhaalist Armour]]
| +2
|Armour
|Light Armour
|
|-
|[[Elegant Studded Leather]]
| +2
|Armour
|Light Armour
|
|-
|[[Elven Chain]]
| +2
|Armour
|Medium Armour
|
|-
|[[Flame Enamelled Armour]]
| +1
|Armour
|Medium Armour
|
|-
|[[Ambusher]]
| +1
|Weapon
|Shortsword
|
|-
|[[Bow of Awareness]]
| +1
|Weapon
|Shortbow
|
|-
|[[Fistbreaker Helm]]
| +1
|Headwear
| -
|
|-
| [[Halberd of Vigilance]]
| +1
|Weapon
| Halberd
|
|-
| [[Stalker Gloves]]
| +1
|Handwear
| -
|
|-
|[[Studded Leather Armour +2]]
| +1
|Armour
|Light Armour
|
|-
|[[Hide Armour +2]]
| +1
|Armour
|Medium Armour
|
|-
|[[Scale Mail  +2]]
| +1
|Armour
|Medium Armour
|
|-
|[[Yuan-Ti Scale Mail]]
| +1
|Armour
|Medium Armour
|
|}

== Surprised ==
{{SmIconLink|Surprised Condition Icon.webp|Surprised (Condition)|Surprised}} is a special [[Conditions|Condition]] that can affect [[List of Creature Types|Creatures]] during the first round of combat. When one side of a combat encounter is unaware of the other side, they may be '''Surprised'''. A '''Surprised''' creature cannot take any [[Action]]s or [[Reaction]]s for one combat round. Characters with the [[Alert]] feat, the [[Feral Instinct]] feature or under the effects of certain items (like the {{RarityItem|Elixir of Vigilance}}) cannot be '''Surprised'''. 

'''Surprise''' can be achieved when initiating combat by attacking an unaware enemy while [[Hide|Hidden]] or [[Invisible (Condition)|Invisible]].
* Some creatures, even when '''Surprised''' themselves, may call out to nearby allies to prevent them from being '''Surprised'''.
* Certain combat encounters are rigged to always '''Surprise''' either the player's party or the enemy party when the proper conditions are met. For example:
** The first encounter with the [[Lesser Imp]]s during the [[Prologue]] always grants the player a '''Surprise''' round.
** A [[Mimic]] will always '''Surprise''' the player's party when interacting with it in its disguised form. Attacking it from range will start the battle without being surprised.
** In the Underdark Beach, a Duergar might spot you, talk to you and call their leader. If you wait for their leader your party is surprised; if you choose to attack, all of the enemies in the area are surprised instead.

[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]]